Stand 15.03.24
As part of the further upgrading of Cuxhaven as a naval base, the then naval command set up a sea mine depot in 1890 at Schleusenpriel, opposite the current marina. From 1905, the Imperial Navy's mining operations moved completely from Wilhelmshaven to Cuxhaven. Shortly afterwards, the floating units followed suit and found their place in the port area of Cuxhaven. The existing depot thus reached its limits, primarily due to limited expansion space and probably also for security reasons due to its proximity to the city center. The decision was therefore made to build another sea mine arsenal in the northern part of Groden with close access to the port. Construction work on the new depot was completed in 1908, but the old property in Schleusenpriel remained in operation for a few more years and was then gradually relocated. The move was associated with the construction of various buildings at the new location. This included production and assembly halls for mine production on site, storage facilities for blocking agents, bunkers and other administrative and operational buildings. But housing for the employees was also considered. However, the buildings were constructed without a large safety distance, which was in keeping with the standards at the time. In contrast to other comparable ammunition depots at the time, the space at this location was somewhat cramped, which would later prove to be a fatal mistake. The use of the blocking weapons arsenal in Groden continued until the end of World War I. Up to that point, sea mines had been produced there in large quantities, which could be delivered directly to the appropriate laying ships via the short route to the harbor. These munitions were then deployed in the North Sea and the river estuaries, primarily to prevent the incursion of British naval forces.
The explosion accident on 11.07.1922 in pictures
After the war, the Groden depot was used to render mines and other types of ammunition harmless. On July 11, 1922, an accident occurred during this work, followed by a devastating explosion of the explosives capable of mass detonation. This resulted in the almost complete destruction of the facility, with seven employees losing their lives and many others injured. But there was also severe devastation in the area around the former mine depot, especially in Groden. After the explosion, the sea mine depot was initially relocated to the Grauerort fortress near Stade. Work began immediately to clear away the rubble and rebuild the destroyed civilian houses and the depot.
When the National Socialists seized power and Germany began rearming, the mine depot in Groden was reactivated. The Navy began building the minesweeper port (America Port) in 1936, and this was completed in 1938. The Groden mine depot followed in 1937, and new construction and expansion work was carried out here. The previously official name 'Marinesperrzeugamt' was renamed 'Marinesperrwaffenarsenal'. Another larger 'Marinesperrwaffenarsenal' was built at 'Oxstedt', which was subordinate to the arsenal in Groden. Although the port was attacked several times by Allied fighter planes during the war, the 'Marinesperrwaffenarsenal Groden' was never hit decisively. At the end of the war, it was handed over to the British invasion troops almost undamaged. According to contemporary witnesses, a large part of the munitions used to blow up the military part on the island of Heligoland (Big Bang) came from the two depots in Groden and Oxstedt. Between 1958 and 1994, the German army used the former arsenal of blocking weapons as a storage facility.
Source: MB, Gerd Wildfang,
Building No. 30
Source: G.Wildfang
Storage Shed No. 13
Source: Private
Storage shed no. 13 from behind
Source: G.Wildfang
Die ehemalige Torpedohalle mit dem Testbecken.
Source: Private
Building No. 32, the magazine with the anti-aircraft gun stand for a light gun up to 4 cm.Source: Gerd Wildfang
Munitionsbunker 31Quelle:Private
Der ehemalige Munitionsbunker Nr. 30
Quelle:Privat
A photo of the eastern extension of the Cuxhaven Sperrwaffenarsenal, taken in 1956.Source: City Archives 247111
The former Groden arsenal today
From 1958 onwards, the German Navy took over the entire facility; the reason for this was the minesweeper port with its floating units located directly next door. After the last naval forces withdrew from Cuxhaven in 1969, the area was primarily used as a warehouse by the Cuxhaven site administration. After the German army finally withdrew in 1994, the site lay fallow for several years and was managed by BIMA (formerly the Federal Property Office). It was not until 1998 that Gewerbepark Europakai Cuxhaven GmbH took over the entire property. This company was originally a subsidiary of Siedlungsgesellschaft Cuxhaven AG and Siedlungs- und Wohnungsbau Cuxhaven Holding GmbH. After selling its shares to the city of Cuxhaven, the municipality took over the site on June 24, 2009 and founded CuxHafen Gmbh. During this time, a number of local businesses found their location there. Most of the buildings are now deserted and only a few businesses remain on site. The entire area of the former ammunition bunkers has now been completely fenced off and is no longer accessible. It is not entirely clear how the area will develop in the future. But the continuing development of wind power will perhaps also establish itself there in the future.
